First visually impaired woman atop Everest hails from a village in Himachal

Amar Chand began his week as he has for decades-overseeing the green peas and apple plantations at his one-acre farm in a village deep inside the Hangrang Valley in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh.

Indian delegations meet officials in Japan, UAE

Two delegations of MPs from India on Thursday met high-ranking officials in Japan and the UAE to convey India's perspective on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in the subcontinent and New Delhi's new approach to dealing with the same. The delegations also briefed country representatives on mis-information spread by Pakistan with regard to the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.-

Zudpi jungles in Vidarbha region to be considered as 'forest lands': SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday held that the Zudpijungle (shrub forest) lands in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra shall be considered as "forest lands" and said their conversion cannot be undertaken without prior approval from the central government. The SC also told the state government and the Centre to jointly formulate a plan to process proposals for diverting such land for non-forest purposes over the next three months. 

President confers six Kirti Chakra and 33 Shaurya Chakra

A shadow on our rights

The Supreme Court's order in State of Haryana vs Ali Khan Mahmudabad ought to send a chill down the spine of those who care for constitutional values. Their Lordships, mercifully, granted bail to Professor Khan. His arrest is scandalous even by our low standards of civil liberties protection. But the order, even in granting relief, will have the effect of under-mining free speech protections. We are now in a constitutional regime in which even the Court's philanthropic benevolence in granting bail (and that is what bail has become) lays the groundwork for further oppression.-

LIBERTY IS NOT LICENCE

Any Meaningful Discussion on freedom of expression in India is incomplete without understanding the First Amendment to the Constitution, introduced in 1951 under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, often hailed as the custodian of constitutional morality. This amendment was not merely a legal adjustment-it fundamentally reshaped India's constitutional philosophy, tilting the balance from individual liberty towards societal order. Prior to this amendment, Article 19(2) permitted only narrow restrictions on speech, covering defamation, contempt of court, and state security. Early judicial interpretations offered expansive protections for free speech, often frustrating governmental efforts to impose limits. In response to mounting political tensions, the Nehru government sought to revise the framework. 

UK signs Chagos deal with Mauritius, retains control over Diego Garcia base

Britain Signed a deal on Thursday to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after a London judge overturned a last-minute injunction and cleared the way for an agreement the government says is vital to protect the nation's security.-

RBI sold nearly $400 billion of foreign currency in FY25

The Reserve Bank of India sold a record $398.71 billion of foreign currency in 2024-25 on a gross basis as the Indian central bank stepped up its defence of the rupee amid a volatile global environment. The RBI's sale of foreign currency in the spot market in the last financial year was sharply higher than the $153.03 billion it had sold in 2023-24 and the previous record of $212.57 billion in 2022-23, data released late Wednesday by the central bank showed.

As SC frowns at ED, allegations against TN liquor retailer

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed proceedings in the Enforcement Directorate's (ED's) money-laundering investigation into government-run liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), saying that the central agency was "crossing all limits" and "violating the federal structure".-

BEHIND KONKAN RAILWAY MERGER: FINANCIAL WOES, NEED FOR UPGRADES

The Maharashtra Government last month officially agreed to merge the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) with the Indian Railways.

With Goa, Karnataka and Kerala having already approved the merger, Maharashtra's decision clears the way for the complete integration of one of India's most scenic and strategically vital railway lines into the larger national network

Lions out of the woods

The Latest population estimation exercise in Gujarat has recorded 891 lions, a 32% jump in population since 2020. In these five years, lions have also expanded their range by 17% from 30,000 to 35,000 sq km-and now cover 58 talukas (up from 53 in 2020) in 11 districts. While announcing the numbers on Wednesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel proudly noted that the increase in the lion population is a result not only of favourable geographic and climatic conditions but also of the state government's consistent and dedicated efforts. For this success story to continue, however, more needs to be done

With Giacometti bust going unsold, look at how art auctions work

Expected to be the highlight of Sotheby's sale in New York, Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti's 1955 bust Grande tête mince failed to find a buyer last week, with the sculpture's whopping $70 million estimate seen to been a deterrent.

This comes days after a $30 million Andy Warhol painting was withdrawn from a Christie's sale by the consignor - the person who put the work up for auction - realised its asking price may not be met. These are signs of a struggling market, in which price expectations and collector sentiments might require a reassessment. But how do auctions work?-